The Aloha Chicken Project

[tazcat70]

Karen, is that your ad on Craigslist?

 

[Deerfield Acres]

No. I'll check it out.

 

[tazcat70]

Here it is.

http://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/3502724098.html

I thought we were the only ones in Kansas. Not that I have done much with mine this year. ;-)

 

[notinoz2007]

very interesting. i know i didnt deliver any eggs to anyone else in kansas, lol. just you karen! or maybe they have been following the thread and working it out on their own, looks like they have all the ingredients.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Hey Taz, I sold some culls and I'm sure this is the young woman I sold them too. It's unfortunate she's not labeling them as project birds. I'll email her.

I have hens for you coming up that are much better quality than those were. Those were way off the mark. So don't buy any of those, if that's what you were thinking. I only sell the worst of the worst to her and made it very clear to her that they are project birds. I have some really nice birds coming up and there are enough for both of us and they are free!

The birds I will be passing along to you this spring will be very close to laying. They are Speckled Sussex crossed with Aloha, Buff Orp, or New Hamp. They all have white legs but they are good sized and far healthier than the SSX were growing up. I haven't had any health issues with these birds at all. No sneezing, wheezing -- nothing. I'm so thrilled with the robust health and for me it's a huge improvement of itself over the Speckled Sussex who seem to be seriously fragile when young. Once they've matured, they are much hardier, unless they just drop dead for no apparent reason.

I'll also be happy to share chicks from the next batch. I don't plan to start collecting eggs for another week or so, but I will be hatching all spring. I would really love to find more people locally who would be interested in the program. I'll be able to hatch lots of eggs with the Sportsman.

I also have German New Hamps now, instead of the regular New Hamps, that will be laying in another month or so. The Buff Orps were a mess. I only have one left and I need to cull her as soon as I'm not suffering on the couch (flu). Not only were they a mess, they weren't good about laying. They always had messy butts from all those feathers, the spots on their babies fade and their tails are not awe inspiring

I'll be replacing my 2 most spotted Speckled Sussex laying hens with the birds I'll be keeping from the grow outs while new Speckled Sussex grow out from Cackle Hatchery that I'm adding this spring. My last batch of birds was from Mt. Healthy and Murray McMurray. I didn't keep any of the McMurray birds because they were small and much less spotted than Mt. Healthy. Mt. Healthy birds turned out to be big birds and fantastic roos. The hens were great layers. I didn't have any McMurray hens.

I'm getting new SSX from Cackle Hatchery this year since Sommer is planning to purchase some Ideal SSX. That way when we exchange eggs/chicks we'll keep the background more diversified. In order to cut back on expense a bit, I'll concentrate on breeding the really good birds I have growing out while my new batch of Speckleds mature. I have a great Swedish Flower Roo that's fantastic in size and color that I will be crossing with my grow outs once they've matured and after I've crossed my German New Hamp roo with my current hens. If you would like a Swedish Roo, I'll look at my extras and see if I have any that would work for the program. Sommer, if you don't mind, could you give me some direction from the photos I posted awhile back of the Swedish birds? Or, if you prefer, I could take new pics now that they're more mature.

We have snow on the ground! The kids without the flu have been outside making snowmen. The chickens are not impressed but they've finally ventured out to check it out this afternoon.

I've got the flu again and my Doctor was so kind to meet me at the office on Sunday morning for an IV so that I wouldn't have to make a visit to the ER again. Awesome. An hour or so and I was back home with my family. So kind of him. He said that he and the other Doctor's that share the office alternate being available every Saturday and Sunday so that their patience don't have to sit for hours in the ER waiting to be treated. Brilliant! I've never heard of this before. Of course, I never needed attention before on a Sunday morning.

Happy New Year!

 

[alohachickens]

The birds I will be passing along to you this spring will be very close to laying. They are Speckled Sussex crossed with Aloha, Buff Orp, or New Hamp. They all have white legs but they are good sized and far healthier than the SSX were growing up. I haven't had any health issues with these birds at all. No sneezing, wheezing -- nothing. I'm so thrilled with the robust health and for me it's a huge improvement of itself over the Speckled Sussex who seem to be seriously fragile when young. Once they've matured, they are much hardier, unless they just drop dead for no apparent reason. . . . . . .

I also have German New Hamps now, instead of the regular New Hamps, that will be laying in another month or so. The Buff Orps were a mess. I only have one left and I need to cull her as soon as I'm not suffering on the couch (flu). Not only were they a mess, they weren't good about laying. They always had messy butts from all those feathers, the spots on their babies fade and their tails are not awe inspiring

Karen, so true . . . all of it.

I think that perhaps getting the Sussex so perfectly, exactly uniform probably "bottlenecked" the DNA somewhere in the breed. Or perhaps, it could be as simple as it was an English breed for a pastoral English farm, and they were used to a different climate? I know myself and three others who have had them just drop dead for apparently no reason.

Everyone loves the Buff Orps out here in AZ. They are cute, I'll admit it! But I don't get the overwhelming popularity they have out here. They aren't amazing layers, not compared to Ameraucanas or Marans. Sometimes, they can be really LOUSY layers, as a matter of fact. And that "fluffy butt" thing is an issue sometimes. The Buff Rocks are an improvement over Buff Orps, mine are fairly productive and never had mess on their hind ends. They have also proved pretty strong, made it through the summer fine. Though if we can't get the spots on there, it will be back to the New Hamps. The NHR's are really pretty decent, not nearly as fragile as the Sussex.

So glad we're coming to the same conclusions. I don't want to force my opinions on others, I feel the Aloha program should be flexible and open to ideas. But I'm glad to hear that your "experiments" are coming up with the exact same results. When that happens (especially on different farms in different regions) then it stops being "opinion" and starts to be something more scientific.

Gee, I can't believe you have the flu AGAIN. I hope they have you on that anti-viral stuff (Tamiflu?) or something to help you get over this! Wow, be careful, Karen. Get lots of fluids and take good care of yourself! Stay warm and cozy back there! Grab one of the worst roos and make yourself some soup. ROFL!!!

Oh, and of course I'll look over some Swedish pics! That would be no problem!

 

[tazcat70]

Hey Taz, I sold some culls and I'm sure this is the young woman I sold them too. It's unfortunate she's not labeling them as project birds. I'll email her.

I have hens for you coming up that are much better quality than those were. Those were way off the mark. So don't buy any of those, if that's what you were thinking. I only sell the worst of the worst to her and made it very clear to her that they are project birds. I have some really nice birds coming up and there are enough for both of us and they are free!

Some people just don't understand the reason that they are considered projects, or just don't care. It is impossible to control that once they leave your place.

I wasn't planning on getting any from her.

Thank you! When you were talking about the un-speckled big girls I was thinking....hmmmmm I need to talk to her. I have a couple of boys, while on the small side, have nice coloring (but white legs) and nice tail feathers. So I am thinking nice big girls would be great!

I'll also be happy to share chicks from the next batch. I don't plan to start collecting eggs for another week or so, but I will be hatching all spring. I would really love to find more people locally who would be interested in the program. I'll be able to hatch lots of eggs with the Sportsman.

I have a few mixed eggs in the incubator, mainly just for fun, no real projects. Mainly they are bantams, silkies and frizzles. Laree got me hooked, so I am trying to hatch a few more fun sized, freaky fluffs.

I am not sure when I will get everyone sorted out into their own pens. It is just so much easier to only have to worry about one pen being fed and watered when it is so cold.


I also have German New Hamps now, instead of the regular New Hamps, that will be laying in another month or so. The Buff Orps were a mess. I only have one left and I need to cull her as soon as I'm not suffering on the couch (flu). Not only were they a mess, they weren't good about laying. They always had messy butts from all those feathers, the spots on their babies fade and their tails are not awe inspiring

I'll be replacing my 2 most spotted Speckled Sussex laying hens with the birds I'll be keeping from the grow outs while new Speckled Sussex grow out from Cackle Hatchery that I'm adding this spring. My last batch of birds was from Mt. Healthy and Murray McMurray. I didn't keep any of the McMurray birds because they were small and much less spotted than Mt. Healthy. Mt. Healthy birds turned out to be big birds and fantastic roos. The hens were great layers. I didn't have any McMurray hens.

I'm getting new SSX from Cackle Hatchery this year since Sommer is planning to purchase some Ideal SSX. That way when we exchange eggs/chicks we'll keep the background more diversified. In order to cut back on expense a bit, I'll concentrate on breeding the really good birds I have growing out while my new batch of Speckleds mature. I have a great Swedish Flower Roo that's fantastic in size and color that I will be crossing with my grow outs once they've matured and after I've crossed my German New Hamp roo with my current hens. If you would like a Swedish Roo, I'll look at my extras and see if I have any that would work for the program. Sommer, if you don't mind, could you give me some direction from the photos I posted awhile back of the Swedish birds? Or, if you prefer, I could take new pics now that they're more mature.

The mixture in the ones you want me to have sounds great. Should be lots of varying colors and a nice mix of genetics to play with. My "plan" or basically thoughts are that I will put the spotted pullets/hens I have under a German New Hamp, and then the big boned, "plain Jane" ladies under the smaller but spotted roos. I don't want to use any SFH. I would rather work on this track. I had thought about ordering chicks, but what you are offering would be so much better! If you end up with an "Extra" GNH roo let me know. If not, maybe I can get a couple eggs or maybe a some chicks, if not, maybe I will contact Kathy(inMo) to see if she has an extra roo.

We have snow on the ground! The kids without the flu have been outside making snowmen. The chickens are not impressed but they've finally ventured out to check it out this afternoon.

I've got the flu again and my Doctor was so kind to meet me at the office on Sunday morning for an IV so that I wouldn't have to make a visit to the ER again. Awesome. An hour or so and I was back home with my family. So kind of him. He said that he and the other Doctor's that share the office alternate being available every Saturday and Sunday so that their patience don't have to sit for hours in the ER waiting to be treated. Brilliant! I've never heard of this before. Of course, I never needed attention before on a Sunday morning.

Happy New Year!

You and kids sick....oh I am so sorry! That always sucks! Please get to feeling better, soon! Have a happy New Year too! I am ready for a new one!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Karen, so true . . . all of it.

I think that perhaps getting the Sussex so perfectly, exactly uniform probably "bottlenecked" the DNA somewhere in the breed. Or perhaps, it could be as simple as it was an English breed for a pastoral English farm, and they were used to a different climate? I know myself and three others who have had them just drop dead for apparently no reason.

Everyone loves the Buff Orps out here in AZ. They are cute, I'll admit it! But I don't get the overwhelming popularity they have out here. They aren't amazing layers, not compared to Ameraucanas or Marans. Sometimes, they can be really LOUSY layers, as a matter of fact. And that "fluffy butt" thing is an issue sometimes. The Buff Rocks are an improvement over Buff Orps, mine are fairly productive and never had mess on their hind ends. They have also proved pretty strong, made it through the summer fine. Though if we can't get the spots on there, it will be back to the New Hamps. The NHR's are really pretty decent, not nearly as fragile as the Sussex.

So glad we're coming to the same conclusions. I don't want to force my opinions on others, I feel the Aloha program should be flexible and open to ideas. But I'm glad to hear that your "experiments" are coming up with the exact same results. When that happens (especially on different farms in different regions) then it stops being "opinion" and starts to be something more scientific.

Gee, I can't believe you have the flu AGAIN. I hope they have you on that anti-viral stuff (Tamiflu?) or something to help you get over this! Wow, be careful, Karen. Get lots of fluids and take good care of yourself! Stay warm and cozy back there! Grab one of the worst roos and make yourself some soup. ROFL!!!

Oh, and of course I'll look over some Swedish pics! That would be no problem!

LOL! Look out buddy -- soup's on!

Yep, Tamiflu is the only reason my eyes are focused enough to be back on BYC. Thank heavens for Tamiflu. Last time no Tamiflu and it took me forever to bounce back. I had the flu shot so I'm pretty disappointed in the silly thing. I pretty much thought I was golden.

The Buff Orps are real sweeties and they didn't all suffer from messy butt but they weren't good layers at all. I could have forgiven all if they had produced eggs like the SSX. Well, almost all. Those fading spots are pretty unforgivable!

My NH's were the most aggressive birds I've had, so they didn't endear themselves to me but I don't believe all NH's are like them. My New Hamp eggs weren't brown like I expected and one even laid a white egg! Weird. They came from the bin at Atwoods. My Germans are assertive birds -- they're not low on the pecking order but they're not bullies either. They are sizing up really well too.

I'm wondering about that solid reddish roo that is actually a Swedish Flower. It has the coloring of a New Hamp but it is definitely a Swedish Flower because the lady I got the eggs from had/has no solid red birds on the premises. Isn't that odd. He's really big and healthy and would carry lots of color?

Edited because my proofreading efforts were futile.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Hey Taz, I sold some culls and I'm sure this is the young woman I sold them too. It's unfortunate she's not labeling them as project birds. I'll email her.

I have hens for you coming up that are much better quality than those were. Those were way off the mark. So don't buy any of those, if that's what you were thinking. I only sell the worst of the worst to her and made it very clear to her that they are project birds. I have some really nice birds coming up and there are enough for both of us and they are free!

Some people just don't understand the reason that they are considered projects, or just don't care. It is impossible to control that once they leave your place.

I wasn't planning on getting any from her.

Thank you! When you were talking about the un-speckled big girls I was thinking....hmmmmm I need to talk to her. I have a couple of boys, while on the small side, have nice coloring (but white legs) and nice tail feathers. So I am thinking nice big girls would be great!

I'll also be happy to share chicks from the next batch. I don't plan to start collecting eggs for another week or so, but I will be hatching all spring. I would really love to find more people locally who would be interested in the program. I'll be able to hatch lots of eggs with the Sportsman.

I have a few mixed eggs in the incubator, mainly just for fun, no real projects. Mainly they are bantams, silkies and frizzles. Laree got me hooked, so I am trying to hatch a few more fun sized, freaky fluffs.

I am not sure when I will get everyone sorted out into their own pens. It is just so much easier to only have to worry about one pen being fed and watered when it is so cold.


I also have German New Hamps now, instead of the regular New Hamps, that will be laying in another month or so. The Buff Orps were a mess. I only have one left and I need to cull her as soon as I'm not suffering on the couch (flu). Not only were they a mess, they weren't good about laying. They always had messy butts from all those feathers, the spots on their babies fade and their tails are not awe inspiring

I'll be replacing my 2 most spotted Speckled Sussex laying hens with the birds I'll be keeping from the grow outs while new Speckled Sussex grow out from Cackle Hatchery that I'm adding this spring. My last batch of birds was from Mt. Healthy and Murray McMurray. I didn't keep any of the McMurray birds because they were small and much less spotted than Mt. Healthy. Mt. Healthy birds turned out to be big birds and fantastic roos. The hens were great layers. I didn't have any McMurray hens.

I'm getting new SSX from Cackle Hatchery this year since Sommer is planning to purchase some Ideal SSX. That way when we exchange eggs/chicks we'll keep the background more diversified. In order to cut back on expense a bit, I'll concentrate on breeding the really good birds I have growing out while my new batch of Speckleds mature. I have a great Swedish Flower Roo that's fantastic in size and color that I will be crossing with my grow outs once they've matured and after I've crossed my German New Hamp roo with my current hens. If you would like a Swedish Roo, I'll look at my extras and see if I have any that would work for the program. Sommer, if you don't mind, could you give me some direction from the photos I posted awhile back of the Swedish birds? Or, if you prefer, I could take new pics now that they're more mature.

The mixture in the ones you want me to have sounds great. Should be lots of varying colors and a nice mix of genetics to play with. My "plan" or basically thoughts are that I will put the spotted pullets/hens I have under a German New Hamp, and then the big boned, "plain Jane" ladies under the smaller but spotted roos. I don't want to use any SFH. I would rather work on this track. I had thought about ordering chicks, but what you are offering would be so much better! If you end up with an "Extra" GNH roo let me know. If not, maybe I can get a couple eggs or maybe a some chicks, if not, maybe I will contact Kathy(inMo) to see if she has an extra roo.

We have snow on the ground! The kids without the flu have been outside making snowmen. The chickens are not impressed but they've finally ventured out to check it out this afternoon.

I've got the flu again and my Doctor was so kind to meet me at the office on Sunday morning for an IV so that I wouldn't have to make a visit to the ER again. Awesome. An hour or so and I was back home with my family. So kind of him. He said that he and the other Doctor's that share the office alternate being available every Saturday and Sunday so that their patience don't have to sit for hours in the ER waiting to be treated. Brilliant! I've never heard of this before. Of course, I never needed attention before on a Sunday morning.

Happy New Year!

You and kids sick....oh I am so sorry! That always sucks! Please get to feeling better, soon! Have a happy New Year too! I am ready for a new one!

Taz, great to hear your thoughts. So I will plan accordingly. I'll pass my German New Hamp roo on to you after I breed him with my current birds. So, I'm thinking he'll be available in Feb or at the latest March. It really depends upon how long it takes him to get fertile. I haven't put a light on in the coop because it's so cold and I was taking a break from hatching since I've been so sick. I'll be happy to pass him along to you!

I understand your feelings on not separating birds for breeding. I have breeder pens and it really makes for a lot more work. When I got sick the first time I felt I had to consolidate since the kids were doing all of the bird care and I couldn't even supervise. I was in the hospital and DH doesn't do chickens. I knew it had to be simplified to protect the birds since kids aren't mean, they just don't always get that today's actions truly do effect tomorrow's outcomes. My oldest DD organized the bird's care and kept everyone on track and the birds all survived and thrived. I've hesitated to separate out again until I am sure I'll be there to make sure everyone is getting their food and water. The kids do fine with one big group but once those breeder pens are operational they just don't have the staying power to stick with it. Now that winter's on with freezing temps, I know that birds in breeder pens would have to have me checking to make sure even the heated dog bowls haven't iced over. I'm feeling pretty antsy because I had intended to continue hatching all winter and keeping the best of the best. Still, I have lots of birds going so that's just being greedy!

 

[tazcat70]

Great!

Do you have other birds that aren't Aloha related? You could still be hatching, you may get some really interesting birds.